Trump has lost Congress. But has he really lost control of America's future?

The 2026 US midterm elections have delivered a dramatic political reversal. Democrats have seized control of both chambers of Congress, raising fundamental questions about Donald Trump's remaining presidency, his economic legacy and America's place in the world. But is Trump politically wounded — or is his presidency more resilient than his critics believe? In this provocative episode of The Focus, Dr John Bruni welcomes back Associate Professor Salvatore Babones, sociologist at the University of Sydney and one of Australia's most outspoken commentators on American politics. Babones offers a strikingly confident assessment of Trump's America, challenging conventional interpretations of the US economy, the war against Iran and Washington's relationship with Vladimir Putin.

The conversation explores some of the most consequential questions confronting American power:

The midterm earthquake: What does losing Congress mean for Trump's domestic agenda and international authority?

The Trump economy: Are ordinary Americans genuinely better off? What do poverty, wages and Wall Street reveal about American prosperity?

The Iran war: Can the United States sustain a prolonged military campaign, or are munitions expenditure and industrial limitations creating vulnerabilities?

Trump and Putin: Is Washington practising pragmatic nuclear diplomacy, or risking concessions to Russian coercion?

Ukraine and Starshield: How should America balance escalation management with support for Ukrainian sovereignty?

America's global position: Can Washington sustain its Middle Eastern commitments while deterring China and reassuring NATO allies?

Throughout the discussion, Bruni tests the relationship between America's immense national power and the strategic costs of exercising that power.

Is Trump's America stronger than his opponents recognise? Or do the economic, political and military consequences of his policies reveal deeper vulnerabilities?

A wide-ranging conversation about political power, economic resilience, war, deterrence and the future of American leadership.

About our guest

Associate Professor Salvatore Babones is a quantitative comparative sociologist at the University of Sydney and Executive Director of the Indian Century Roundtable. His research and commentary encompass democracy, political institutions, economic development, populism and international affairs.

Salvatore Babones — three most recent books

Dharma Democracy: How India Built the Third World's First Democracy (2025) — Connor Court Publishing.

Australia's Universities: Can They Reform? (2021) — Ocean Reeve Publishing.

The New Authoritarianism: Trump, Populism, and the Tyranny of Experts (2018) — Polity.
Explore Salvatore's work: https://www.salvatorebabones.com/

Follow The Focus

Subscribe for conversations with leading international thinkers, military professionals, scholars and strategic analysts on the forces reshaping global affairs.

The Focus Podcast — challenging assumptions, testing arguments and exploring the consequences.

Produced by SAGE International Australia.

Website: https://sageinternational.com.au/

Join the discussion

Do you believe Trump's midterm defeat fundamentally changes America's global position? Or are US economic and military strengths sufficient to withstand the political setback?

Share your thoughts below. We welcome informed debate and respectful disagreement.

#Trump #USMidterms2026 #SalvatoreBabones #Geopolitics #IranWar #Putin #TheFocusPodcast

Trump has lost Congress. But has he really lost control of America's future?
The 2026 US midterm elections have delivered a dramatic political reversal. Democrats have seized control of both chambers of Congress, raising fundamental questions about Donald Trump's remaining presidency, his economic legacy and America's place in the world. But is Trump politically wounded &mdash; or is his presidency more resilient than his critics believe? In this provocative episode of The Focus, Dr John Bruni welcomes back Associate Professor Salvatore Babones, sociologist at the University of Sydney and one of Australia's most outspoken commentators on American politics. Babones offers a strikingly confident assessment of Trump's America, challenging conventional interpretations of the US economy, the war against Iran and Washington's relationship with Vladimir Putin.
The conversation explores some of the most consequential questions confronting American power:
The midterm earthquake: What does losing Congress mean for Trump's domestic agenda and international authority?
The Trump economy: Are ordinary Americans genuinely better off? What do poverty, wages and Wall Street reveal about American prosperity?
The Iran war: Can the United States sustain a prolonged military campaign, or are munitions expenditure and industrial limitations creating vulnerabilities?
Trump and Putin: Is Washington practising pragmatic nuclear diplomacy, or risking concessions to Russian coercion?
Ukraine and Starshield: How should America balance escalation management with support for Ukrainian sovereignty?
America's global position: Can Washington sustain its Middle Eastern commitments while deterring China and reassuring NATO allies?
Throughout the discussion, Bruni tests the relationship between America's immense national power and the strategic costs of exercising that power.
Is Trump's America stronger than his opponents recognise? Or do the economic, political and military consequences of his policies reveal deeper vulnerabilities?
A wide-ranging conversation about political power, economic resilience, war, deterrence and the future of American leadership.
About our guest
Associate Professor Salvatore Babones is a quantitative comparative sociologist at the University of Sydney and Executive Director of the Indian Century Roundtable. His research and commentary encompass democracy, political institutions, economic development, populism and international affairs.
Salvatore Babones &mdash; three most recent books
Dharma Democracy: How India Built the Third World's First Democracy (2025) &mdash; Connor Court Publishing.
Australia's Universities: Can They Reform? (2021) &mdash; Ocean Reeve Publishing.
The New Authoritarianism: Trump, Populism, and the Tyranny of Experts (2018) &mdash; Polity. Explore Salvatore's work: https://www.salvatorebabones.com/
Follow The Focus
Subscribe for conversations with leading international thinkers, military professionals, scholars and strategic analysts on the forces reshaping global affairs.
The Focus Podcast &mdash; challenging assumptions, testing arguments and exploring the consequences.
Produced by SAGE International Australia.
Website: https://sageinternational.com.au/
Join the discussion
Do you believe Trump's midterm defeat fundamentally changes America's global position? Or are US economic and military strengths sufficient to withstand the political setback?
Share your thoughts below. We welcome informed debate and respectful disagreement.
#Trump #USMidterms2026 #SalvatoreBabones #Geopolitics #IranWar #Putin #TheFocusPodcast

The Focus is the flagship current affairs podcast of SAGE International, an independent, Adelaide-based geopolitical  think tank.

Hosted by Dr. John Bruni—a veteran geopolitical commentator with over 24 years in the Australian media—The Focus brings a critical edge to global affairs. John's expertise is built on decades of experience, including time with the Royal United Services Institute of Australia, work as a university lecturer, senatorial foreign affairs adviser, analyst for Jane’s Intelligence Review, and Gulf-based military analyst.

Produced by Neil Smart, The Focus cuts through the noise of biased media to deliver sharp, informed insights into the major issues shaping Australia and the world. In an age of global disruption and complexity, knowing which questions to ask is more vital than ever.

The Focus&nbsp;is the flagship current affairs podcast of&nbsp;SAGE International, an independent, Adelaide-based geopolitical &nbsp;think tank.
Hosted by&nbsp;Dr. John Bruni&mdash;a veteran geopolitical commentator with over 24 years in the Australian media&mdash;The Focus&nbsp;brings a critical edge to global affairs. John's expertise is built on decades of experience, including time with the&nbsp;Royal United Services Institute of Australia, work as a university lecturer, senatorial foreign affairs adviser, analyst for&nbsp;Jane&rsquo;s Intelligence Review, and Gulf-based military analyst.
Produced by&nbsp;Neil Smart,&nbsp;The Focus&nbsp;cuts through the noise of biased media to deliver sharp, informed insights into the major issues shaping Australia and the world. In an age of global disruption and complexity, knowing which questions to ask is more vital than ever.